Here Italy and Finland have entered into a union and all the silvery tones of nature seem to have made their home,” wrote the great philosopher Nietzsche of the little Alpine Swiss town, Sils Maria, in the Engadine Valley. Weather sensitive, with severe health issues, he thrived amid the contrasting bright warm sunshine, blue skies and radiant light of Italy against the crisp cool air, alpine snow and stark northern freshness of Finland.
He returned time and time again, from 1881 onwards, renting a room in a modest house, now a museum dedicated to his life. While here, he walked constantly around its lake, Lake Silvaplana, notebook in hand. He said it helped him to think, evidenced by some of his most important philosophical concepts being born here.
